Confined space cooling apparatus



Dec. 13, 1960 v. STARK 2,963,881

CONF'INED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1Fl 6. l

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Dec. 13, 1960 v. STARK 2,963,881

CONFINED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. V1 R s: L S T A R K qTTO R/VETS.

Dec. 13, 1960 v. STARK CONFINED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed March 26, 1956 INVENTOR. vlRGdL. STARK Dec. 13, 1960 Filed March26, 1956 FMLB.

V. STARK CONFINED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I/ IIIINVENTOR.

Vmcsu. STARK Dec. 13, 1960 v. STARK I 2,963,831

CONFINED SPACE COOLING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5FIQ'O.

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INVENTOR. Vmeu. STARK United States Patent O CONFINED SPACE COOLINGAPPARATUS Virgil Stark, 936 5th Ave., New York, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 26, 1956, Ser- No. 573,893

5 Claims. (Cl. 62-459) This invention relates to portable apparatus forcooling small enclosures designed to protect human beings fromdiscomfort in a hot humid atmosphere, and is an adaptation of therefrigerating system described in my Patent No. 2,731,808 which utilizesa finned metal container filled with a replaceable charge of somereadily available refrigerant, such as Dry Ice.

My patented refrigerating system is incorporated in a garment or headcover intended to be worn upon the human body, thus providing anintermediate environment closely surrounding the body through which acontinuous flow of cold air may be circulated for carrying oif heat andmoisture produced in the body and thereby dissipating them in the outeratmosphere.

The present invention seeks to broaden the usefulness of my patentedrefrigerating system by making it independent of the human body andapplicable to cooling a confined space adequate for one or more persons.

This invention in essence consists of a refrigerating element suitablefor mounting either on an article of apparel or on a fixed or movablesupport including a cover, or on a utilitarian article such as anumbrella, parasol, small canopy, tent, beach cabana, overhead cover fora bed or chair, or other space enclosing means substantially impermeableto atmospheric air.

The refrigerating element consists of a container, preferably made of alight weight metal of good thermal conductivity and having a suitableshape (either cylindrical or rectangular or conical or spherical, etc.)for the use contemplated, adapted to receive a replaceable charge ofrefrigerant and provided with outside fins so arranged as to formchannels for the passage of ambient air in a generally downwarddirection.

When charged with suitable refrigerant, such as Dry Ice which in solidform has a temperature of 109 F. below zero, the container will bemaintained at a much lower temperature than the surrounding air and willcool the latter and condense some of its'moisture content, causing it toincrease in weight and sink to the lower part of the enclosed space,which is open at the bottom to permit this cooled air to escape into theexternal atmosphere. In its descent the cool air produces the effect ofa refreshing breeze upon persons in the enclosed space.

The degree of cooling of the metallic container and the temperature ofits exterior and the surrounding fins may be controlled by the use ofmore or less insulating materialin the interior and exteriorconstruction and in the design of the fins and air passages and controlmeans therefor, as well as by the amount of refrigerant in the charge,as hereinafter more fully disclosed.

My invention is different from air conditioners since those rather coolan entire space, such as e.g., a room, an apartment, a car or plane,where large masses of air have to be cooled and all heat losses must betaken into consideration, whereas the present invention provides forcooling of alimited space surrounding generally one person. An importantadvantage of this invention is that itneed not be incorporated andattached to a garment or headcover worn on the person, although it couldbe made part of such, if desired.

The unit may be portable and attachable, for instance, to a parasolwhich, at the same time, will also protect the wearer from the sun rays.When detaching it from the arasol, this very same unit may be usedconnected to a beach tent, then again in conjunction with an overheadcover for a bed, or within a transparent enclosure covering a person ina car, or pilot or an individual passenger in a plane.

When greater airflow is required, a special unit may readily be designedfor such purpose, consisting of a cooling unit, formed of twocontainers; one completely in wire mesh containing the refrigerant, andthe second one outside of and spaced from the first one. The secondoutside container is provided with an opening on a special coverallowing the entrance of the ambient air. The cover could also beprovided with a connection allowing, if so desired, the installation ofan air hose which would be connected to a suitable air pressure system.

In case the unit is intended for use in motion it may also be providedwith a detachable air inlet and directed against the direction of themovement allowing an increased air flow obtained from the motion. Theair entering the container will be cooled by passing through therefrigerant such as Dry Ice. It will then pass around the inside wiremesh container and through the bottom of the outside container, into thespace to be cooled which is limited by the apparel or enclosure, asdescribed above.

In case that pressurized air is used, an ejector may be added at thebottom of the container which will add to the principal flow a portionof cooled air circulated between the fins. This secondary air flow willbe in addition to the principal flow.

This special device would be added to the standard unit as an additionalfeature of increased cooling capacity, thus the basic unit could be usedwith or without addition of pressurized air. Needless to say, the use ofpressurized air is restricted to applications where compressed air isreadily available.

In the accompanying drawings showing illustrative erramples of differentkinds of apparatus embodying myinvention: I

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side elevations, partly in section, of a canopyfor a bed, a tent, and a chair cover,

respectively;

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a plan view and a central cross-sectionin a vertical plane of a preferred form of the invention;

Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to Figures 4 and 5 of a modified formof the invention;

Figures 8 and 9 are views similar to Figures 4 and 5 of another form ofthe invention, Figure 9 showing thedrawings there is provided a cover orcanopy of insulating material, preferably transparent or translucentandpreferably heat reflecting material, shaped to conform to the confinedair space for which the cooling and condi tioning system is designed,the top part of the side wall or roof of this cover being slopedupwardly from the lower part of the side wall which may be eithersloping or vertical to suit the design.

At the apex of the top wall of there is an opening for the refrigeratingelement, which is advantageously supported by an adjustable bracket of;

the cover or canopy} e 3 articulated or telescoping column from thefloor or other convenient fixed support and which in turn may beadjusted to support the cover or canopy so that its lower edge is flushwith or just clear of the floor.

Figure 1, for example, shows a cover for a bed 16 or couch or similararticle having a shapeconforming in plan to that of the article coveredand of a height adequate to permit one or more persons to lie within itand have suflicient freedom for movement to read, smoke or engage inother activities. The top wall 17 slopes upwards from all sides to asuitable position for the refrigerating element 18 which is preferablynear one end if the article is a bed. The cover may be supported at thedesired height above the floor by means of a post 19 removably securedto the side or end of the bed by clamps 29 and provided with a hingedarm 21 which may be adjusted vertically and horizontally by means of auniversal joint 22 and which at its free end is hinged to a verticalstem 23 to which the refriegrating element 18 is attached, the latterbeing removably connected to the edges of an aperture at the apex of thecover.

Figure 2 shows a tent-like cover or canopy 25 having its side wallssloping upwards and inwards from its circular bottom edge 26 of itscircular apex 27 at which point it is secured to the outer perimeter ofthe refrigerating element 18, the latter preferably being supported froma pedestal 28 by means of an articulated post 29 and bracket 3%) similarto that shown in Figure 1. If desired, the bottom edge 26 of the cover25 may be provided with a stifiening ring 31 and mounted on short legsor blocks 32 to hold it at a uniform distance above the floor.

Figure 3 shows a cover 35 for a chair or bench 36 wherein the entirefront wall slants inwardly towards the refrigerating element 18 at itstop and the side and rear walls are vertical at the bottom and slantinwardly at their upper parts towards the refrigerating element, whichis securely mounted in an aperture at the top of'the cover and isadjustably supported on an articulated post 37 attached to the back ofthe chair or bench and provided with a bracket arm 21 and stem 23 as inthe form of apparatus shown in Figure 1.

The refrigerating element 18 may be either removably or permanentlysecured to the cover or canopy by any suitable means. As shown inFigures 4' and 5, at the upper edge 41 or apex of the sheet 40 formingthe body of the cover or canopy there is an aperture surrounded by aflat ring 42 to which the edge of the sheet is cemented or otherwisefirmly attached. The refrigerating element is surrounded by verticalradial fins 43 between which are passages for permitting entrance of airinto the space below, and the outer tips of these fins are provided withlateral flanges 44 which are bolted or otherwise detachably secured tothe ring 42 and either riveted or welded to a similar ring which can beremovably attached to it by thumb screws or other convenient means.

The refrigerating element shown in Figures 4 and comprises a cylindricalcontainer 50 to the exterior of which the radial fins 43 are welded orotherwise secured, and the bottom of which is provided with a socket 51to receive the upper end of the stem 23 which supports the entireassembly of refrigerating elements and at least the upper part of thecover or canopy 40. The stem 23 is hinged to the arm 21 by a connectionthat can be rigidly clamped by a thumb screw 52 or other means in anydesired position of angular adjustment, and the arm 21 in turn isconnected to the post 19 by means of a universal joint 22 likewiseprovided with a clamping means 53 to hold it securely in adjustedposition. The particular kinds of joints and clamps employed depends onthe conditions of use and form no part of the present invention, andthere being many such devices well known for such purposes, no fulldescription of them is necessary.

The open top of the container 50 is closed by a hinged lid '54 which maybe secured by a spring catch, lock bolt aeeassror other readily operateddevice well known for this purpose. A sheet 55 of fibre board, syntheticplastic or other insulating material is cemented or riveted to the underside of the lid 54 to reduce the amount of heat that passes through thetop of the container when charged with refrigerant. The heat transferand thus the temperature of the fins and consequently the degree ofcooling depends on the contact between solid Dry Ice and the metalsurface. A woven wire mesh 56, placed for instance /s" or from themetallic walls of the container, will facilitate more uniform coolingaround the container evenif the latters position is not horizontal. Inthis way, only the CO vapor will be in direct contact with all the sidewalls which are separated by the wire mesh from the solid Dry Ice. 7 V

The above described arrangement will make it possible to maintain a moreuniform heat transfer (when the par tially filled container is tiltedfor instance) by eliminating the difference in heat transfer betweenthose parts which are in direct contact with the solid Dry Ice and thosewhich are not.

Within the container may also be placed a woven basket '56 or otherremovable receptacle for the refrigant charge having perforations ororifices in its Walls for the passage of vapor. The degree of coolingmay be varied by regulating the heat transfer. An insulating sheet orsheets, made of insulating material such as plastic or fiberboard, thethickness of which would depend on the extent of insulation required,could be in-v serted for this purpose between Dry Ice and the bottomand/or side walls of the container.

The fins 43 are advantageously provided with little troughs 60 alongtheir lower edges on each side to catch moisture condensed from theatmospheric air passing between them when the apparatus is in operationand conduct it outwardly to their ends and discharge it over the coveror canopy beneath, the lower edges of the fins sloping downwardly fromtheir inner ends sufficiently for, this purpose. Alternatively thetroughs 60 may be packed with absorbent material 61 to absorb thecondensed moisture, as shown in Figure 12. Flexible partitions ordeflectors 62, whose positions can bechanged, may be placed under thecover 40 so as to be able to direct the flow of cooled air towards theperson or the.

location where the breeze is more desired.

The bottom end of the canopy or cover 40 is to be spaced from the groundso as to allow free passage of the air coming out of the enclosed space.

This same cooling unit. could be attached to and detached from variouscanopies and/or utilitarian items, covers or enclosures.

Further means for regulating the temperature and fiow of air is shown inthe modified form of the invention illustrated by Figures 6 and 7.

The Dry Ice is enclosed in a special wire mesh or perforated metalcontainer 63 provided with a wire .mesh cover. The wire mesh container63 is placed in a second metal container 66 preferably surrounded withoutside fins 69. To allow free flow of the air around the wire meshcontainer, it may be spaced from the other one by adequate supports andspacers 71. The bottom of the metallic container is provided with airopenings 72. A separate cover 65 with a center opening 67 is to beplaced over the metallic container. Condensation channels 74 and drippan 75 with petcock 76 may be provided to drain off condensed moisture.

The warm ambient air will flow through the opening 67 which is providedwith a sliding cover 64 which serves to regulate the amount of this airflow, a matter of importance as thereby the regulation of the coolingdevice is effected. Upon contact with the very cold solid Dry Ice (109F. below zero) the incoming warm air will be cooled and will flowdownwardly between the two containers and through the openings 72 intothe space isolated by the cover 40, commingling with the air flowingthrough the fins. This special cooling unit could, however also be usedwithout fins. The moisture in the air may freeze. To face this problem,adequate spacing and special arrangements, such as, openings 68 at sideof metallic container allowing lateral heating, may be provided.

Another refrigerant, and even ice mixed with salt, for example, could beused in a specially designed container, for particular applications.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 isintended to be supplied with a stream of atmospheric air from anysuitable source through the inlet pipe 80 which is connected to athreaded opening in the center of the lid 81 and is removable therewith.In this form of the invention the bottom wall 82 of the container isprovided with openings 83 to permit free flow of air through thecontainer and into a funnel 84 depending therefrom which discharges intothe throat of a venturi tube 85 depending from the ring 86 surroundingthe large aperture at the apex of the cover 87, so that air is drawnthrough the spaces between the fins 88 and commingles with that enteringthrough the pipe 80 when the apparatus is charged and functioningnormally. A drip pan 89 is provided to catch the moisture condensed fromthe atmospheric air in this form of the apparatus, this pan having aspout 90 to permit it to be emptied periodically by tilting the entireapparatus.

The refrigerant container 91 may be left open at the top to expose thewire basket 92 for the refrigerant as illustrated in Fig. 8, or thiscontainer may be covered with a removable perforated lid 93 as shown inFig. 9, to provide for charging with a suitable refrigerant, asdescribed with reference to the refrigerating element illustrated inFigs. 4 and 5. Both forms of refrigerant container illustrated in Figs.8 and 9 have provision for circulation of air and escape of refrigerantvapor through orifices in the top, sides and bottom to promote therefrigerating effect.

The structure described above, shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is supported bymeans of the support 82a.

The tent-like shelter 95 shown in Figure equipped with a refrigeratingelement 18 supported on a post 96 is intended for use in chemical plantsand other buildings wherein vitiated or very hot air is present andconstitutes a hazard for employees. My refrigerating and airconditioning apparatus is shown in this figure with its apex projectedinto a large ventilator 97 or other opening to the atmosphere in theroof 98 of a portion of the plant where such apparatus is advantageousand readily available to employees as a shelter during rest periods.

Figure 11 illustrates diagrammatically the manner of installing my novelrefrigerating apparatus in a location subject to a fluctuating orconstant flow of air, as on a moving vehicle such as an automobile, orin an exposed position in the wind. The container 100 and cover 101 aresupported in any convenient manner above the heads of the personsseeking to be cooled, or properly supported at a window opening of anautomobile with proper connections and air conduits so as to cool theinside of the car. The lid 102 is provided with an opening in its top towhich the outlet pipe 103 of the air scoop 104 is attached by means of aswivel joint 105. The pipe 103 may also be connected to the ventilatorconduits of an automobile so as to provide cool pressurized air in thecar.

Preferably the container has spaced openings 106 around its bottom topermit the air entering it through the scoop to flow directly into thespace within the cover 101 where it commingles with atmospheric airdrawn in through the fins 107 and descends therewith to escape at thelower edge of the cover.

A vane 108 may be attached to the air scoop to hold it with its intakefacing into the wind, the stem of the vane being adjustably secured tothe ring 109 or other part of the air scoope 104 by means of a universaljoint,

110 which may be clamped in any desired position by means of a thumbscrew 111 or other manual securing means well known in the art.

By manipulating the vane 108 to hold the scoop 104 at the appropriateangle crosswise with respect to the direction of the wind or movingvehicle, the amount of air entering the scoop may be controlled to suitthe degree of cooling desired by the persons under the cover 101 withinthe capacity of the apparatus.

The design of the apparatus, its location and mode of operation fordifferent purposes, contribute to the cooling eifect and constituteparts of my present invention which, together with the extended anddiversified usage secure-d, distinguish it from my Patent No. 2,731,808.

I contemplate that the cover and refrigerating element may be supportedon the person like an article of apparel or supported by hand like anumbrella instead of being supported from the floor or ground or articleof furniture; and the surface of the entire assembly may be made heatreflecting to assist in maintaining the low temperature desired withinthe insulating cover without excessive consumption of refrigerant.

From the foregoing examples it will be seen that an important feature ofmy invent-ion is the supply of cooled and dc-humidified air within thespace enclosed by the cover which must be breathed by the personsoccupying this confined space. This is due to the effect of the coldfins in promoting circulation of fresh through the open passages betweenthem, which passages cannot be closed either by accident or intentbecause of their location over the aperture in the cover at its apex.

Another important advantage of my invention for use in a portable typeof apparatus is the uniform temperature maintained all around thecontainer due to the refrigerant being spaced therefrom by the cage orreceptable which prevents cold spots due to contact of the refrigerantwith one side or the other of the walls of the container as would occurotherwise when the apparatus is tilted in carrying or in setting it upin a new location.

Other advantages of my invention are its interchangeable adaptability todifferent circumstances and conditions of use and the ease with which itcan be taken down, transported and set up in various locations asdesired, as either the refrigerating element by itself or the entireassembly of refrigerating element and flexible heat-proof cover may bepacked in a portable case and carried about by one person.

The invention is not restricted to the constructional details of theillustrative examples, but what I claim is as follows:

1. A portable apparatus including a cooling element consisting of ametallic container and cover of selected shape and size fillable with areplaceable charge of refrigerant, such as Dry Ice, provided withexternal metallic fins so spaced and arranged that when cooled by therefrigerant such metallic walls and fins will cool the ambient air andcreate a downward cooled flow between the fins and into a confined spacebeneath the cooling element, said cover being provided with an aperture,means in said aperture for conducting pressurized air into saidcontainer and means carried by said fins for attachment to an insulatingprotective cover for confining the fiow of cooled air and affordingincreased comfort to any person located under the cover, said attachmentmeans having provision for disengagement whereby such cooling element isattachable to and detachable from and independent of the cover.

2. A system including a cooling element attachable to and detachablefrom a cover as described in claim 1 provided with means for trappingmoisture condensed when cooling the air and before entering the spacewithin the cover and thereby reducing the relative humidity of suchentering air by removal of at least part of the said system particularly'in humid or tropic atmosphere.

3. A coolingrapparatus for conditioning a confined space comprising anouter container discharging adjacent cooled air into said space,-aninner receptacle maderof reticulated metal adapted to contain areplaceable charge of refrigerant, such outer container being providedwith outside fins between which ambient air may enter said space andsaid container being spaced on all sides from the inside receptacle topermit free flow of air into and out of said receptacle and into saidspace, a cover on the outside container provided with an aperture, meansin said aperture for conducting the flow of pressurized air into saidcontainer and inner receptacle to be directly cooled by the refrigerant,and means for commingling the flow of air cooled by contact with therefrigerant with the air cooled by the 'fins and entering through thespaces between the container and fins and removing condensed moisturetherefrom before such cornmingled air flows into said space, forincreased comfort for the person located in such space by maintaining alower temperature and lower relative humidity therein than the ambientair.

4. A comfort promoting apparatus for cooling and de humidifying alimited space and separating said space from a debilitating ambience ofthe type comprising an insulating cover surrounding said space laterallyand leaving an opening thereto at its top and an opening therefrom atits bottom, said top opening being covered by a refrigerating elementadapted to close said top opening and having a chamber for receivingarefrigerant material and at least one open passage through said elementpermitting free flow of outside air downwards into said space in coolingheat transfer relationship to said chamber, said passage discharginginto said space through the constricted throat of a venturi tube, anopening into said chamber and means for supplying air thereto, meanspermitting escape-of vapor from said refrigerant material andcommingling it with said air whereby said air is further cooled andde-humidified, said open passage discharging into' said space throughsaid venturitube, thereby maintaining a difference in pressure betweenthe treated air near the bottom of said space and the outside ambiencewhich prevents entrance into said space of vitiated air from saidambience through said bottom opening.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 with provision for variation oftemperature of the air flow by including variations of heat transfer byplacing a wire mesh between the walls and the refrigerant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS603,916 Metzger May ;10, 1898 1,913,347 Taylor June 9, 1933 2,134,003Morrison Oct. 25, 1938 2,731,808 Stark Ian. 24, 1956

